Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto has issued a stern warning against any attempts to sow discord between himself and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo – the instrumental figure behind his electoral success – revealed a prominent lawyer on Tuesday.

Prabowo delivered his message during a dinner gathering with members of his legal team at his private residence in Jakarta.

"His unequivocal message during the meeting was 'don't play me off against Jokowi, don't even entertain the thought'," celebrity lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea told members of the media following the gathering.

Prabowo hosted the dinner to express gratitude to his legal team after the Constitutional Court upheld his presidential victory by rejecting a motion filed by defeated presidential candidates seeking to annul the election results.

"He also provided insights into his long-term plans, including initiatives for poverty eradication," added Hotman.

While Prabowo had previously been defeated by Jokowi in two presidential elections, the president extended an olive branch by appointing Prabowo as defense minister in 2019 during his second term.

Their collaboration continued when Prabowo selected Jokowi's son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his running mate, strategically positioning himself as the strongest advocate for Jokowi's legacy among other candidates.

Benefiting from strong support, Jokowi is widely regarded as the real kingmaker in the recent election, where constitutional term limits prevented him from seeking reelection.

By teaming up with Gibran, Prabowo's popularity soared, with many pollsters attributing his surge to newfound support from Jokowi's strongholds.

Ultimately, Prabowo clinched victory with 58 percent of the vote, avoiding a potential runoff.

Prabowo's triumph came at the expense of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), of which Jokowi and his son were longstanding members.

Initially confident in nominating former Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo for president, the PDI-P found itself at odds with shifting electoral dynamics, diverging from the successful strategy employed in Jokowi's previous victories.

It was also the PDI-P that elevated Gibran's political career by giving him the privilege to become a candidate in the mayoral election in Solo he won three years ago.

The reasons behind the rift between the president's family and the PDI-P remain unclear.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/dont-pit-me-against-jokowi-prabowo-warn